Bangladesh are all set to start their ICC Champions Trophy campaign on Thursday with the match against India in Dubai.
The match will begin at 3:00 pm (Bangladesh time).
Despite entering the event as underdogs, the Bangladesh captain said they were confident they could make the event memorable.
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While India holds a dominant record in ODIs against Bangladesh—winning 32 of their 41 encounters—the Tigers believe they have the firepower to challenge one of the tournament favourites.
India won 32 of the 41 matches they played against Bangladesh. But Bangladesh captain believes they have the firepower to challenge India.
The Bangladesh captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, said they were not concerned about their perceived lower standing. He rather said Bangladesh had the firepower to challenge a big team like India.
“Our team is quite balanced, and we believe we can beat any team in this tournament,” Shanto said ahead of the match.
He also added that he did not like to talk about opposition much. Instead, he said the team is focusing on their own performance.
Bangladesh’s recent improvements in pace bowling have given them an added dimension, with Shanto particularly optimistic about the impact of fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana.
“We always struggled with our seam attack, but over the last couple of years, we’ve got some quality fast bowlers,” he said. “Nahid and Taskin, the way they are bowling, help us a lot. As a captain, I love to see them bowling fast and delivering for the team.”
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Nahid, Bangladesh’s hero in their maiden Test series over Pakistan last year, can bowl consistently, clocking the speed of 150 km/h. He acknowledged the challenge of playing against India but said he was rather focused on executing his skills.
“The team expected me to bowl fast and use me as an attacking option,” Rana said. “I just focus on executing my plan. If I feel good, I know the pace will be right.”
India have always been a tough opponent for Bangladesh, particularly due to their strong batting lineup. While Bangladesh had eight ODI wins against India, their task will be formidable on Thursday.
The conditions in Dubai could play a crucial role. Under lights, fast bowlers might find assistance, something that Bangladesh will look to capitalise on. Shanto noted that his team has prepared for all scenarios.
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“We know how the challenge will come tomorrow,” he said. “We’ve had good practice sessions, and we have a plan in place.”